Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the fastest developing economies in the world but this progress has yet to make much difference to many families living in poverty in urban slum or rural areas where gender inequality and harmful traditional practices continue to be the norm.

FGM has been illegal in Ethiopia since 2004 but 74% of girls and women in the country undergo the practice. Ethiopia also has one of the highest rates of child marriage with 41% of girls and women married by the age of 18.

There are multiple, complex and interrelated reasons given for child marriage in Ethiopia. Traditional beliefs and attitudes held by parents and other key decision makers in the community are highly influential. This is intrinsically linked to the desire to protect a girl’s virginity, as a girl’s chastity is perceived to be closely associated with a family’s honour. Likewise, some families marry their daughters young to ‘link’ their family to another family of good lineage. It can also be considered a way out of poverty, as they can benefit from the bride price, and ‘hand over’ the financial responsibility for their daughters to another family. It is also seen as a means of achieve social security as families believe their sons-in-law and grandchildren will be able to take better care of them in old age than their daughters. Frequently, child marriage is fuelled by the absence of other viable options or choices for girls and their families. In some cases girls ‘choose’ to get married, hoping it will improve their quality of life. Across the world, child marriage often means the end of education for young girls and this is evident in Ethiopia where less than 1 in 5 girls reaches secondary education.

Our Partnerships

ProFutures Development Initiative

ProFutures Development Initiative (PFDI) is small women led organisation founded in 2013 following PEER research carried out in partnership with FORWARD on child marriage in Ethiopia. The findings of the research informed the setting up of girls’ networks to share knowledge so that girls affected by child marriage can become advocates for their rights. The girls’ networks provide leadership training, education about girls’ rights and income generating activities such as dairy and poultry farming.

The network operates in three locations in Gonder, North Eastern Ethiopia, and is expanding to include girls’ clubs in Addis Ababa, the capital. They are also introducing a schools based programme which aims to help girls from poor families stay in education through financial support, education on girls’ rights, building the leadership capacity and confidence of girls and providing resources such as sanitary pads to overcome the many obstacles that often force girls to drop out of school.

“I learned that other married girls are having children too young. I learned from them that I shouldn’t have a baby until I am older – I learned the challenges through the other girls’ stories.”